A: Why not? It's just a fun diversion for me, nothing to do with making anything with it. I don't get paid to write stuff like this, if I were, well, Nedfan wouldn't be the name I would put on the cover...For now it works perfectly and no, my name isn't Ned. Hell, even George Kennan wrote under a false name. He chose the incredibly appealing name 'X', in the 1947 Foreign Affairs issue.

For those wondering what the hell Ned does mean: I'm 'Holland' born-and-bred. Nederland is the Dutch word for the Netherlands. Holland is a well known conception. And there's the first glitch: altough technically it's The Netherlands, somehow only 'Holland' sticks...which is inaccurate, since Holland captures only two states/provinces out of twelve

For anyone who knows Dutch Geography (I think it's fair to say: not many): I live in Gelderland, a province in the East near the German border. Henceforth my appreciation for German (it's a must), but I also speak English, French (though somewhat rusty over the years), and Dutch of course. Know some rudimentary Latin, as long as I get the time to read it carefully (and people are not bugging me to hurry up...). I also am learning Dutch Sign Language and I'm interested in ASL: there are amazing similarities between both languages, which makes it more easy to learn the one and read about the other.

oOo

Update I (12-23-06): I recently passed my Dutch Sign Language grade 3 exams. Considering there's only one more (Grade 4) to follow for non-fulltime non-University course students, I think we've come a long way since I started with Course 1 in September 2005. The Course 4 that I'll be attending early 2007 is the first to be given to a group of people in the Netherlands, outside of said University-courses (which are 4-years studies).

Upate II (02-28-07): I passed my Dutch Sign Language Grade 4-A Exam, together with the Exam of the Basic Introductory Course of Four-Handed-Sign Language (for Deaf-Blind people). This means I'm eligible to enroll into Grade 1 Fourhanded Sign Language, as well as DSL 4-B. I'm looking forward to both, hoping to be of service for people who need help, assistance etc. There's a demand for people who know Sign Language (of both varieties), so who knows...

oOo

Ok. without getting too personal, some more info: no surprise here: I like reading fanfics, as long as they're well written. STFBE is always fun, so is Due South (because of the incredible chemistry between Ray and Fraser, one of the best interactions I've ever seen on tv between two actors). Pairings in FF? As I said, as long as it's good, I don't care.

Why write STFBE? I'll be upfront and honest when I say that usually series like Sue Thomas are nowhere near the cup of tea that I crave: the series Doc from the same makers doesn't do squat to me, I can't be bothered. I wouldn't have been bothered about STFBE too: it's true it's moralistic (I usually get very rebellious when people are patronizing), there's sweet-talk, the action is not explicit (if visible at all) and that's a no-no in my book, usually. Yet something touched me, I can't lay my finger on it, I just like it.

Also I like to see good stories about Monk, the A-Team and a bunch of others... I recently stumbled over this GREAT story, or actually multiple stories. It's written by someone who writes parodies on (without exception) BAD A-Team stories. Pointing out the flaws and quirks in an absolutely hilarious way. A spin off from an amazing site called Protectors of the Plot Continuum. The Url: . Check it out! The story is called 'Protectors of the A-Team' by IndeMaat, who happens to be Dutch: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2873191/1/Protectors_of_the_ATeam

Goddamn! They're back! www.godawful.net/gaff_forums is the best one around for chucking down all the things you hated to see in fan-fiction. With pencils sharpened enough to pierce an Abrams M1 tank, members and guests logged every (well, that's humbug, not every but close) fic that needed to be 'fixed' or were just plain bad and made you want to throw up. Make sure you wear your Stab-Pro vest when entering.

Finally, a well-rounded critique is very useful for any writer. Reviewing is an art to be taken seriously. Sadly, there are all too often the showstoppers that almost never exceed the two syllables, and have the in-depth of a tea-saucer. Now, you don't have to be Saul Bellow or Noreena Hertz to write something useful: just make sure you put as much effort in reviewing as you can imagine your favorite author does in his/her story. Imagine the London Review of Books would comment "Great Job, I Love It!" on every new book that hits the markets. To quote Ali G. (Sacha Baron Cohen): "Ich don't think so".

Hesitant to write such reviews? You don't need to be: this site helps you to get started. It offers great references for authors too.

Favorite quotes:

"Those are my principles, and if you don't like them...well, I have others." Groucho Marx

"From the moment I picked up your book until I laid it down, I was convulsed with laughter. Some day I intend reading it." Groucho Marx

"The secret of Life is to appreciate the pleasure of being terribly, terribly deceived." Oscar Wilde, A Woman of No Importance (act 3)

"Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask: 'Where have I gone wrong?' Then a voice says to me: 'This is going to take more than one night'." Charles M. Schultz, Charlie Brown in Peanuts

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Dr. Seuss

oOo

When you read my stories, and you see an error, let me know, I know I'm not perfect. Though I check my texts thoroughly for grammar etc., I'm still Dutch-speaking by nature...

Despite previous experiences, they try just another stakeout. Or is it? The up-market façade of Kalorama, Washington DC seems the perfect cover for up-market schemes. But in unveiling an Art thief, Sue and Jack discover much more...

Jack and Sue face Russian diamond smugglers, triggerhappy Dutchmen, RUF Rebels and, most of all, each other in a race against time that leads them throughout DC, Maryland and Virginia. Question is: can they cope with it, and with their new relationship?

Someone is busy ruining Canada's fine reputation as a highly civilized country with friendly inhabitants with brusque actions and questionable behavior. It's up to Ray and Fraser to pick up the pieces, literally.